Why farm? Why choose a profession and lifestyle that runs against a cultural tide of sharply dressed, well groomed talking heads, who preach the advantages offered by fancier, cleaner, and more lucrative careers? American culture may claim to romanticize agrarian life, but the romance is less than legitimate. The answer lies with the changing ideas of American food philosophy, what I would call a purpose-driven understanding of the role of food and American food suppliers in culture.

We’re very excited about the upcoming Reformation of Food and the Family Conference in San Antonio, Texas July 12-14. True Food Solutions will have a booth there and we look forward to engaging many likeminded reformers in discussions about the challenges and solutions we’re finding as we work to transition away from the modern industrial food economy to a more natural and sustainable food system.

US Department of Labor announced Thursday that it was dropping proposed regulations of family farms related to children working on the farm. This story, and the retreat of the federal government, offers some important lessons about food freedom and what needs to be done to secure our liberty in the future.

While there may be exceptions, our ‘communities’ have largely become depersonalized and non-relational. The problem is that people are still personal. We haven’t become impersonal, but how we think of people and their ideas has been corrupted. So what is the solution? And what does this have to do with food? Food has much to do with this because it is an integral part of hospitality. And hospitality is a large part of the solution to our mess.

The great thing about farmers markets or buying direct from farmers is that there is no “middle man” who distributes the food and takes a cut of the profit. Farmers are notoriously low paid, so when you buy direct from the farmer, he actually receives the money.

The great thing about farmers markets or buying direct from farmers is that there is no “middle man” who distributes the food and takes a cut of the profit. Farmers are notoriously low paid, so when you buy direct from the farmer, he actually receives the money.

A full discussion of food will include the social-political and cultural aspects of the environment in which the food will be cultivated, harvested, prepared, and eaten. If our society and culture in general is messed up, our food’s quality will not escape unaffected. It is good for us to then to examine our current system, and the centralization that accompanies it.

When we consider food we should not isolate and examine it apart from life. We live in a world that is interconnected, that is not necessarily put in neat isolated boxes. What we do with food is very connected with the rest of life. One example is the connection between history and food.

In this third review of Joel Salatin’s audio message, I want to consider some of his charges regarding community values. Values extend far beyond production methods and health choices, but include the way that people, animals, and God’s creation are considered and treated. Pursuing the establishment of values in our food systems will give us more consistency, and ultimately, credibility.